By Radha Agarwal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prince Rupert Northern View The Lax Kw’alaams band has called a referendum for April 9 to vote on the proposed Da’ax Kw’alaams Man-Ayaawx Constitution, a momentous step toward establishing their own self-governance framework. “A Constitution will re-affirm and assert the rights of Lax Kw’alaams people. Only with the Constitution can we move away from the Indian Act,” said the band on its official social media handles. The Lax Kw’alaams community consists of descendants from the Nine Tribes of the Ts’msyen, which include the Gitlaan, Gispaxlo’ots, Gilutz’aaẅ, Gitandoa, Gitnadoixs, Ginax’angiik, Gits’iis, Gitzaxłaał, and the Gitwilgyoots. It has approximately 4,150 members and is located on the northwest coast of British Columbia near Prince Rupert. To exercise their rights to self-determination and self-governance, they will proceed…